of milwaukee



c. J. KLEIN.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED mm, 1915.

1,321,64U5. Patented Nov. 11,1919,

. WWW I v E y CHARLES J, KLEIN, OF

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES KLE1N, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is'a full, clear,.concise, and exact description, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. This invention relates to circuit controllers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide efficient and improved means for insuring the continuance of certain pre'established circuit conditions during the interruption of another circuit.

A further object is to provide simple and improved means to look a plurality of reciprocable. switch operating members against movement in either direction.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter in connection with a description 0 the accompanying drawing which illustrates a typical embodiment -of the invention, and

in whichcontroller.

Fig. 2 is a view plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 5 is a'plan view of a modification of the device with the cover plate therefor removed.

The device shown is a circuit controller particularly designed for automobile lighting and ignition systems. The device is commonly mounted flush in an accessible part of the automobile dash and includes a plurality of snap switches having push and pull operating members and'another switch having a pivoted operating member. In practice the push button switches preferably control the automobile lighting circuits while the lever operated switch controls the ignition circuit.

More specifically, a receptacle 1 of insulating material'houses a plurality of snap switches having push and pull operating thereof with the cover members, 2, 3 and 4 andanother switch hav- Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed January 4, 1915.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a multi-switch UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Serial No. 410.

ing an oscillating operating member 5. A cross plate 6 extends over and is fixed to the receptacle and is provided with suitable apertures to accommodate the several switch operating members and with holes 7 for receivlng screws to attach the device to its support.

Interlocking means is provided to restrain the push button switches against operation wh le the ignition switch is in open circuit position. Thus the lighting switches are locked against unauthorized operation at all times while the automobile is idle. As illustrated, a stamped metal disk 8 is pivotally secured by a pin 9.to the cross plate 6 and is provided with openings 10 and 11 through which the push buttons 2, 3 and 4 extend. The opening 10 is enlarged at opposite sides of a restricted communicating slot and the opening 11 consists of two connecting openings similar to the one 10. The push buttons are provided with fixed collars 1Q movable between the cross plate 6 and a face plate 13 whereby the travel of the operating members is limited. The openings in the rotatable disk 8 have maximum widths to allow the collars 12' to pass freely therethrough and a restricted width to engage the collars and hold the push buttons against operation. For example, when the push button 1 is depressed and the disk 8 rotated (Fig. 3), it is apparent that the button is locked against outward movement. Similarly when the button is pulled to outermost position and the disk rotated the former is locked against depression. Inasmuch as the push buttons 2, 3 and 4 are all arranged for independent operation, the same may be simultaneously locked irrespective of the extreme position of each.

The oscillating switch lever 5 is pivoted.

through the cross plate 6 and has a polygo- Patented Nov. 1 1, 1919. I

extension 17 at one MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, assien'on TO THE cuTLEmHAMnER I MFG. 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, a coaroaa'rron or WISCONSIN.

slot 20 in the face plate and in which is an form also,

With an upstanding lug 33 which works in ,a' suitablelr'arc-shaped opening in the face i 6, so that the ignition against operation aperture 21 to aline with an aperture 22 in a lug restrained by the disk 8 against manipulation.

In Fig. 5 ainodified form of the device is shown wherein the ignition switch is mounted intermediate certain of the push button switches. In this embodiment, a pair of locking plates 25 and 26 for the push buttons 2, 3 and 4 respeetlvely. are pivotally mounted 20 on the cross late 6 by pins 27. Said-plates are, provided with ofi'set extensions 28 disposed toward each other, and a swinging plate 29, controlled by the lever-of theignition switch has opposite extensions lying the extensions 28. A lost motion .connection is provided between the swinging plate 29' and the locking plates 25 and 26.

As illustrated, this connection comprises pins 31 on the late extensions 30-which workin slots 32 n the plate extensions 28. Thus movement of said swinging plate in either direction om its intermediate position imparts pivotal movementto the plates 25, 26 which thereupon lock the push buttons in the manner above set forth. In this the swinging plate 29 is provided plate and has an aperture to .aline with an aperture on a fixed lug 34 of the cross plate acting operating member and a 30 overswitchmay be locked in open circuit position in the manner also above set forth.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a receptacle, a cross plate and a faceplate thereon, a switch mechanism within said receptacle having a permanently connected reciprocably acting switch operating member extending through said plates, said operating member having means cooperating with said plates respectively for limiting movement of said operating member in either direction, a second switch mechanism within said receptacle and having a swinging operating member, a pivoted locking disk for said reciprocably swinging disk movable by said swinging operating member to move said locking disk, said disks bein disposed between said plates.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a receptacle, a cross plate thereon, a switch mechanism within said receptacle having a push and pull operating member extending through said cross plate, a switch mechanism within said receptacle having a swinging operating member, a face plate for said receptacle, a pivoted locking disk for said push and pull operating member and a swinging disk movable by said swinging operating member to move said locking disk, said disks being disposed between said plates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses L. APWARTBO'N, TEKILA BAST. 

